Christmas Bureau lost its biggest fan with death of volunteer Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan loved everything holidays, but the Christmas Bureau meant the most to him.

The 69-year-old volunteer died shortly after last year’s event.

His family and bureau co-workers remember a man who loved people and counted numerous friends. The longtime Spokane resident also came from a large family. He was the second-oldest among seven children, born days after Christmas on Dec. 28.

“Danny,” who was developmentally delayed from birth, had so many friends that he’d get invited to multiple holiday parties, his sister Mary Sullivan said.

“He loved the music of the holidays, the food and the parties,” she said. “He was always invited to holiday parties, and he’d often go to more than one a night. He had to really plan out his evenings.”

But the Christmas Bureau held a special place in his heart, Sullivan said.

“He loved the camaraderie of the volunteers at the Christmas Bureau,” she said. “He really developed friendships there, because he’s a people person. He loved when people got their gifts to see how happy they were to be able to give something to their families at Christmas.”

Sullivan, who lived independently, was always the first to submit a volunteer form for the Christmas Bureau, volunteer coordinator Brigid Krause said. He worked in the lunchroom keeping it clean for helpers. Only cancer last year kept him away.

“Dan had the right priorities in life; people were his priority,” Krause said. “I know he took care of his 95-year-old parents and went to clean their house at 4:30 a.m.”

“On opening day, I’d always offer to pick him up,” Krause said. “He’d talk about all the people he was looking forward to seeing, and it helped get me in the right frame of mind.”

Sullivan also worked for 28 years at Eastern Washington University in food service.

Volunteer Christy Folkins also gave Sullivan rides. He was unable to drive himself, so he relied on Spokane Transit Authority buses or paratransit.

Folkins said Sullivan will be sorely missed at the bureau and always put others first. “I would come back sometimes for a late lunch, and he would stick a bowl away for me. He had a kind and generous spirit.”

Since his Jan. 10 death, many donors have contributed to the Christmas Fund in Sullivan’s name. His family designated the charity in his obituary because he loved the Christmas Bureau, his sister said.

“We want the people who donated in Danny’s memory to the Christmas Bureau to know how touched the Sullivan family is by them honoring him,” Sullivan said.

This year, the Christmas Bureau opens its doors Dec. 10-19, excluding Dec. 13, at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. Volunteers expect to serve more than 9,000 needy families who can select one toy and one book for each of their children. They also receive $15-$30 food vouchers toward a holiday meal.

It’s all made possible by generous donors. The Spokesman-Review collects donations to the Christmas Fund that will go to pay for the Christmas Bureau, a collaboration of Catholic Charities Spokane and Volunteers of America.

Donations

Donations now totaling $52,766.35 include these recent contributions:

Hal Dixon, of Spokane, gave $2,500.

Scott and Shannon Sevigny, of Spokane, donated $1,000.

Terry Deno, of Spokane, gave $800.

An anonymous donor gave $600.

An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $500.

Stephen Scott gave $300 via PayPal.

John and Catherine Caskey, of Spokane, gave $250.

Sharon and Gary Randall, of Colbert, donated $225 “to honor our deceased parents, Pres and Margaret Cleveland, Les and Clara Randall.”

Joseph and Ann Greff, of Cheney, gave $200, noting, “Hope this helps someone to have a happier holiday and Christmas season for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”

John and Charlotte Sullivan, of Spokane, donated $200 in memory of Charles and Opal McCoy.

An anonymous donor gave $200 via PayPal.

Richard and Lucille Hallett, of Spokane, donated $165.

Tom and Marcia O’Leary, of Spokane, gave $150.

Virginia Czechowski, of Spokane, donated $100, writing, “This donation is made in memory of my husband, Theodore, his brother Mickey and our son David.”

Anonymous Spokane donors gave $100 “in memory of our parents.”

Judy and Jon Gardner, of Spokane, gave $100, saying, “Merry Christmas and keep up the good work!”

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $100.

Wayne Attwood, of Spokane, donated $100.

Jim and Carol Strobeck, of Spokane, gave $100.

Sally Overholser, of Spokane, donated $100.

George and Barbara Stevens, of Spokane, contributed $100, writing, “A small gift from two donors who lived through the Depression days. No gifts for Christmas unless the gifts came from charities. Wonderful surprise! Thank you all for the happiness you give to so many. May God bless you all.”

Larry and Sandra Neil, of Spokane, donated $100.

J. Paul and Sharma Shields, of Spokane, gave $100 with a note, “Thanks for all your hard work.”

Catherine Shields, of Spokane, gave $100.

Joyce E. Schroeder, of Spokane, donated $100.

Margaret Byers, of Spokane, gave $100. Her note read, “In loving memory of my parents, John L. and Marguerite Cooney.”

Thomas Caswell, of Spokane, gave $100.

Fred Fox, of Spokane, donated $100. “A small contribution to assist in reaching your goal. Thank you for all you do for the community!”

Donna Roloff, of Spokane, gave $100, writing “Joy to the World and thanks to the S-R Christmas Bureau.”

Jerry Robinson dropped off $100.

Timothy Bristow sent in $100 via PayPal.

Mark Johnson, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $50.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $50.

R.W. and Kay Brightman, of Spokane, donated $50.

Michael Rooth, of Spokane, donated $50.

Carol Wilson, of Spokane Valley, gave $50.

Shirley McKenney, of Spokane Valley, gave $50 with the note, “In memory of my husband, Richard McKenney, and my grandson, Nic Clason. Bless you for the wonderful work you do for others.”

Gerald and Beatrice Scheele, of Spokane, gave $35.

An anonymous Spokane donor contributed $35.

Cheryl Scheideman, of Spokane, gave $25.

Betty Thompson, of Spokane, gave $25.

Helen Hanshaw, of Spokane, gave $25. She wrote, “Christmas when my children were little was very special, and I hope this $25 check brings a happy smile on a little one’s face.”

Note: For donations made through PayPal, The Spokesman-Review contributed the PayPal processing fee.